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A Lost Generation: The Affirmative Action Program: Does It Really Work?
By Bill Lawrence
The Minneapolis Public School
Systems (MPSS) has had three
affirmative action plans supposedly
in place and working within the
school district since 1978.
Basically, the Affirmative Action
plan was supposed to set up the
situation within the MPSS district to
allow for the recruitment, hiring, and
retention of minority certified staff,
while the number of American,
white certified employees hired and
retained would decrease. These
programs have worked well for
African Americans who have
applied for positions within the
school district, but have failed
Native Americans who have applied
for the same certified positions.
In 1978 the Minneapolis Public
School had a total student
population of 45,610, of which
11,889 were people of color. In the
same year, there were 2,573 Native
American students attending the
School District or 5.6% of the total
student population. African
American students totaled 8,023
students or 17.6% of the total
student population, and White
American student population was
73.9% of total enrollment.
In 1978 MPSS employed 93
Native Americans which was 1.6%
of the total work force and of that
number only six were certified staff
members (.47% of the total certified
work force). This was below what
should have been reflected given the
student population of 5.6% of total
enrollment.
The African American work force
was 472 or 7.9% of the total work
force and White Americans held
5,358 or 89.3% of the total work
force positions. What is striking is
the African Americans, while still
low in percentage of the MPSS work
force, had substantially higher
percentages than Native Americans
in employment by the MPSS
District.
The 1978 census for Native
American employees indicated that
only six certified teachers were
employed. Native Americans did not
hold administrative or other certified
staff positions. In contrast, African
Americans held 76 certified teacher
psbitions, 4 principal and assistant
principal positions and 31
non-teaching certified positions,
which accounted for 9.02% certified
~staff in the district. White
Americans during the same time
held 88.63% of all certified
positions; 40 principal and assistant
principal positions, 1,792 certified
teacher positions and 259 certified
non-teaching administrative and
counseling positions.
The striking disparity that shows
up between the Native American
certified employees and African
American certified employees is that
the Native American population had
no administrators or certified
non-teaching employees working in
the district and only six certified
teachers while the African
Americans were employed by the
district at a much higher rate. The
district did not employ any Native
Americans in the front office. At
the same time, the school district
discriminated against Native
Americans by not hiring them for
teaching or administrator positions
under the pretext that there were no
positions available.
Under the Green Administration,
African Americans made great
strides in being employed by the
school district, while the Native
American employment decreased
during this period. In recent years,
MPSS has shown an increase in
Native American employment..
Fourteen years later in 1991, the
school district had a total student
population of 41,723 of which
22,637 were students of color. The
student ethnic ratio for White
Americans fell from 73.9% in 1978
to 45.7% in 1991, yet the district
employed and hired during this
timeframe 73 White American
principals and assistant principals,
2.32T White American teachers and
612 White American certified
non-teaching administrative and
counselor positions, all increases in
actual numbers for a total of 85.57%
of the total certified work force,
even though the White American
student population fell during this
same time frame by 28.2%. The
total white American employees that
were certified fell only 3.05% during
this same time. From these figures it
is plain to see that affirmative action
was not working in replacing White
American employees with
employees of color. In fact, white
employees actually increased in
numbers during this period, while
Native American applicants for
teaching and administrative
positions were systematically being
denied and excluded from
employment by the school district.
The status quo was being maintained
at the expense of Indian applicants.
When one looks at the progress
made by African Americans over the
past 14 years in employment by the
district, it becomes even more
obvious. In 1978, the African
American student population was
17.6% of the total student
population. The district employed
African Americans in 9.02% of total
certified work positions. Of these,
35 were certified non-teaching
administrative positions, 4 were
principals and assistant principals
and 76 were certified teachers.
Fourteen years later under the Green
Administration the African
American student population
increased to 14,088 in 1991, which
was 33.8% of the population of
students. During this same period,
African Americans made great
strides in affirmative action hires by
the district. In 1991, 38 were
employed as principals and assistant
principals, an increase of 34 in 14
years, 222 were employed as
certified teachers, an increase of
156, and 76 were employed in
certified non-teaching administrative
positions, an increase of 45. The
total certified staff made up 9.51%
of the total certified work force, a
slight increase, but nevertheless, an
increase. When one looks at the
administrative position of principals,
there is an increase to 30% which is
reflective of the total student
population. Affirmative Action has
worked to increase the African
American employment by the
district both in percentage and total
numbers of employees. This has
been very dramatic in the area of
administrators employed by the
district. The Green Administration
must be commended in this area of
employment of African Americans.
The Native American applicant for
certified positions did not fare as
well under the Green
Administrations as the African
American did. In 1978 the Native
American student population was
2,573 or 5.6% of the total student
population ofthe district. In 1991,
the Native American population
totaled 3,162 students or 7.6% ofthe
total student population. When one
looks at the African American
employment figures and student
population increased, the
employment of African American
certified principals, teachers, and
non-teaching certified administrative
positions increased in dramatic
numbers. This did not happen for
the Native American applicants or
for Native American employment by
the district. la 1978 there were a
grand total of six teachers employed
by the district who were Native
American. Fourteen years later, in
1991, there was a total of 64
certified Native Americans
employed in certified positions, six
in principal and assistant principal
positions, 37 in certified teacher
positions and 21 in certified
non-teaching administrative
counseling positions. While the
increase looks good on paper, at first
glance, six to 64, when one
compares this with the other groups
by percentages, it does not look
good, in fact, it looks dismal. The
total Native American certified
employment by the district is less
than 2% (1.82%). When one
compares that to the African
American employment percentage
and their student population, it
indicates that Native American
applicants were and are employed
by the district at a much lower rate
than African Americans. This is
also true when they are compared to
White American employment by the
school district.
The affirmative action plans of the
school district have worked for the
African Americans but have not
worked for the Native American.
This does not mean that Native
American applicants feel that they
should take positions that have been
earned by the African American
applicants, only that they be involved in
the Affirmative Action plan of the
school district. When one looks at the
reduction in White American student
population over the past 14 years, one
would expect that the employment
population of White Americans would
fall because of retirements and
movement. On the contrary, it has
remained stable, and in actual numbers
has increased at the expense of the
Native American applicants and other
Lost Gen./on pg. 3
By and For the Native American Community
?**&
The
Pree
Native
American
Press
We support Equal Opportunity For All People
A Weekly Publication
Founded in 1991
Volume 2 Issue 13
August 7, 1992
Copyright, The Native American Press, 1992
The Minnesota Chipps win national
Softball tourney in Lewiston, Idaho
The National Indian Softball
Tournament was held in Lewiston,
Idaho, July 30th, 31st and August 1st,
1992.
Jerry Reyes of the Minnesota
Chipps, the Most Valuable Player of
the tournament, capped a furious sixth
inning rally by smashing a
tremendous two-run homer to lead the
Minnesota team to their ninth national
tide in 12 years, 19-9, over the
Taholah, Washington Stars.
Reyes' homer came at the end of a
10-run outburst that saw the Chipps
break a 9-9 tie in the title game and
salt away their fifth win of the
tournament against no losses in the
double-elimination affair.
Earlier, the Chipps were able to
hang in with the Stars throughout the
game on the hitting and speed of
outfielder, Carl Cool, who hit three
triples in the game and scored four
times.
The Chipps started off the
tournament by pounding out an 18-4
win over Plummer, Idaho. After a
slow start, the Chipps scored four
times in the second and nine times in
the third inning to log the win. Gabe
Kampeka had four hits, while Cook,
Reyes and Ken Jeanotte had three
each to pave the way. The Chipps'
Cook and Reyes had solo
four-baggers as well.
In their second game, the Chipps
faced a sky-high Yakima,
Washington Suns team, who jumped
out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first.
John Wind led the Chipps' second
wind with a four-bagger as did Cook.
After Reyes' walk, Crawford nailed a
four-bagger, as did Kampeska,
scoring Jeanotte from his single.
The Chipps ended up over the Suns
20-5.
In a Friday night game, the Chipps
turned an 8-2 deficit around to a 20-8
advantage, getting around the Hoopa
Valley, California team. Reyes kept
on his MVP rampage with three
round-trippers around the bases.
Cook, Crawford and Jeanotte
slapped on two runs in the first of the
final game. The Washington Stars
tied it in the next inning.
Minnesota reestablished the lead at
3-2, however, the Stars nabbed a 6-3
position in the last of the fifth.
The Chipps dismantled the Starr,
with six in the same inning for a 9-6
surge. The vexing Stars romped right
back thrice in the apex of the fifth for
a 9-9 draw.
The last of the sixth was the j
decisive bout for the Minnesota nine,*
as they machinated ten scores for the
victors and a national championship.
In special awards given out,
Reyes was elected as an All-Star
and and MVP for his field prowess.
Joel Smith was also an All-Star and
got the Best Glove award of the
competition.
"All of our team played
exceptionally well," said Chipps
coach, Henry Harper. "Carl Cook
and Mike Fairbanks played very
well and deserved All-Star billing,
but that's up to the tournament
committee, we can't do anything
about that."
"Man for man, we had the best
player at each position in the
tournament, but we'll take the
championship over individual
awards," concluded Harper.
IAC will meet in Twin Cities, Duluth, in Aug
INDIAN AFFAIRS COUNCIL
PUBLIC HEARINGS
AUGUST 19,1992
Minneapolis American Indian
Center - Auditorium
1530 E.Franklin
Minneapolis, MN 55404
12:00-4:00 p.m.
AUGUST 20,1992
Duluth Gov't Services Bldg.
320 W. Second Street - Room 608
Duluth, MN 55802
1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
AUGUST 26,1992
State Office Building
100 Constitution Ave. Rm 300 No.
St. Paul, MN 55155
12:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The Indian Affairs Council's Urban
Indian Advisory Council will be
holding public hearings in
Minneapolis, Duluth, and St. Paul.
Interested citizens are encouraged to
attend these public hearings and
provide testimony on their areas of
concern or interest as it pertains to
the urban Indian population in the
state. The Urban Indian Affairs
Council is interested in hearing
testimony on urban Indian housing,
employment, child welfare,
education, chemical dependency.
health care issues, racism and
discrimination, and economic
development. Testimony may be
provided in advance or at the
scheduled hearings. If you are
interested in providing testimony,
please cajl to confirm your allotted
time a't (612) 296-361 1 .
Testimony will be taken from the
floor as time permits. Your
written testimony should be
limited to 3 pages with your name,
organization, address, and
telephone number. You will have
5 minutes to deliver your public
testimony. Contact Jo-Anne
Stately for further information
regarding these public hearings.
Top photo, the Chipps from Minnesota, bottom photo, the Taholah Stars team from Qainauit, Wasnington.
Treasure Island Casino has a pirate ship
David Carlson as Captain Blackjack, along with other pirateers who are up the crew of the "Queen of Diamonds.
By Gary Blair
If you haven't met any real sea priates
lately or stood aboard a real pirateship,
then maybe it's because you haven't
visited the Treasure Island Casino that's
located on the Prairie Island
Mdewakanton Sioux Indian
Reservation just 30 minutes south of
the Twin Cities. This casino has a real
live pirate by the name of Captain
Blackjack who, when he isn't sailing
the Seven Seas with his five salty crew
members, can be found in the casino
talking with visitors and demonstrating
his many card tricks. But when he does
decide to go to sea, he simply starts up
the ship's 460 cubic inch V8 Ford
engine and sets sail for the nearest
parade. (This weekend the ship sails for
the Ellsworth, Wisconsin, parade.)
The pirateship that Captain Blackjack
uses was built on a one-ton Ford truck
chassis with the frame stretched an
additional 8" to accommodate the 32'
ship which is 13'3" in height and is
8'6" wide. The frame was extended the
extra 8' to help assure the ship's captain
that it wouldn't capsize when it's out on
the open highway. Elliott Wessel,
Promotions Manager for the project,
said, "Captain Blackjack and his
pirateers are all part of a theme that the
Treasure Island Casino Manager and
the Tribal Council for the reservation
have big plans for."
Wessel added, "We have a five-year
expansion plan that includes
development of a 225-room hotel;
400-sIip marina; 18-hoIe golf course;
200 slip RV park; casino expansion;
arcade; entertainment facility for 800;
convention facility for 500; restaurant
with 24-hour buffet; 75-acre theme
park, which includes a man-made lake;
sports bar; and 100 townhouse hotel
suites. AH of this will be located on the
600 acre reservation."
David Carlson, who plays the casino
character Captain Blackjack, said, the
pirateship is called the "Queen of
Diamonds." Carlson, who is an actor by
profession, is employed by the Dan
Foote Marketing Company of St. Paul,
which presently handles the casino's
marketing and promotions. The other
actors who make up the cast of
pirateers are Carlson's wife, Elizabeth,
who plays a pirate woman, and their
son, Ricci, who plays a pirate child.
Others in the cast include John S jogron,
who is one of the male pirates, Jill
Cambronne, who is a blond-haired
female pirate and Keith Garrick, who is
also one of the male pirates.
Carlson said his wife is the
choreographer for the group, which so
far has done a routine of slapstick
humor, jazz and acrobatics as the ship
moves along the different parade
routes. The ship has been busy with
parades ever since it first arrived at the
Casino this past July 3rd and will be
busy year round.
"Built" is the word that best describes
the Queen of Diamonds. The ship was
designed by David Carlson and
constructed by the Designing Signs
Company of Owatonna, Minn. Captain
Blackjack's ship and crew have already
racked up awards from all the major
parades throughout the area, including
awards from many smaller parades.
With a slogan that reads, "For the
Pirate in All of Us," this ship and crew
have become a real showboat and
source of pride for the Prairie Island
community. Wessel said the tribal
council really supports the Captain
Blackjack theme, especially tribal
council treasurer. Vine Wells.
David Krahmer has been the driver
for the ship. Wessel said, "Krahmer
used to drive for a courier service and
he has done a lot of driving. He handles
the ship safely in the parades and that's
not always easy to do." The ship's inner
construction is built out of a 1" steel
frame. The outer part is built from ply
tongue and groove cedar. Ithas smoked
plexi-glass at the front, aluminum
masts, vinyl sails, and stained
woodwork. It's been weather-proofed.
It has a gloss coat, running lights,
sound, and songs by by David Carlson.
Wessel said, "We are allowed to drive
the ship on the freeway and it moves
right along." Our ship has been on TV,
shown in news clips, and we have been
on the cable channels as well." He
added, "We want to make it clear that
this ship has nothing to do with
Columbus." In one ofthe parades we
had some guy running after us hollering
about it being a 'Columbus ship.' This
ship has nothing to do with Columbus.
It's the theme for the Treasure Island
Casino and nothing else." Wessel also
said, "It's nice when someone comes
into the casino and tells you they saw
the ship at one ofthe parades we were
in."
Pirateships aren't the first and only
thing that the Treasure Island Casino
has been a major sponsor of. Casino
Magazine recently featured a story
about a 2,200 horspower alcohol fueled
champion "Funny Car" that's used in
the sport of drag racing. This car has
run in drag races all over the country
with the Treasure Island Casino name
colorfully painted on its side. Both
tribal council members Vine Wells and
Johnny Johnson are quoted in the
article. Wells was quoted as having
said, "The excitement of racing
matches the excitement of gaming."
Johnson was quoted as saying,
"Treasure Island Casino and Bingo has,
in under a year, grown to be the 34th
largest privately held corporation in the
state of Minnesota."
This Saturday country singer Willie
Nelson will perform outdoors at the
casino for a group of over 7,000
people. Rita Wells, Guest Relations
Manager, said, "Willie Nelson will
start setting on Thursday and people
who want to meet him should come
down and do so."

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A Lost Generation: The Affirmative Action Program: Does It Really Work?
By Bill Lawrence
The Minneapolis Public School
Systems (MPSS) has had three
affirmative action plans supposedly
in place and working within the
school district since 1978.
Basically, the Affirmative Action
plan was supposed to set up the
situation within the MPSS district to
allow for the recruitment, hiring, and
retention of minority certified staff,
while the number of American,
white certified employees hired and
retained would decrease. These
programs have worked well for
African Americans who have
applied for positions within the
school district, but have failed
Native Americans who have applied
for the same certified positions.
In 1978 the Minneapolis Public
School had a total student
population of 45,610, of which
11,889 were people of color. In the
same year, there were 2,573 Native
American students attending the
School District or 5.6% of the total
student population. African
American students totaled 8,023
students or 17.6% of the total
student population, and White
American student population was
73.9% of total enrollment.
In 1978 MPSS employed 93
Native Americans which was 1.6%
of the total work force and of that
number only six were certified staff
members (.47% of the total certified
work force). This was below what
should have been reflected given the
student population of 5.6% of total
enrollment.
The African American work force
was 472 or 7.9% of the total work
force and White Americans held
5,358 or 89.3% of the total work
force positions. What is striking is
the African Americans, while still
low in percentage of the MPSS work
force, had substantially higher
percentages than Native Americans
in employment by the MPSS
District.
The 1978 census for Native
American employees indicated that
only six certified teachers were
employed. Native Americans did not
hold administrative or other certified
staff positions. In contrast, African
Americans held 76 certified teacher
psbitions, 4 principal and assistant
principal positions and 31
non-teaching certified positions,
which accounted for 9.02% certified
~staff in the district. White
Americans during the same time
held 88.63% of all certified
positions; 40 principal and assistant
principal positions, 1,792 certified
teacher positions and 259 certified
non-teaching administrative and
counseling positions.
The striking disparity that shows
up between the Native American
certified employees and African
American certified employees is that
the Native American population had
no administrators or certified
non-teaching employees working in
the district and only six certified
teachers while the African
Americans were employed by the
district at a much higher rate. The
district did not employ any Native
Americans in the front office. At
the same time, the school district
discriminated against Native
Americans by not hiring them for
teaching or administrator positions
under the pretext that there were no
positions available.
Under the Green Administration,
African Americans made great
strides in being employed by the
school district, while the Native
American employment decreased
during this period. In recent years,
MPSS has shown an increase in
Native American employment..
Fourteen years later in 1991, the
school district had a total student
population of 41,723 of which
22,637 were students of color. The
student ethnic ratio for White
Americans fell from 73.9% in 1978
to 45.7% in 1991, yet the district
employed and hired during this
timeframe 73 White American
principals and assistant principals,
2.32T White American teachers and
612 White American certified
non-teaching administrative and
counselor positions, all increases in
actual numbers for a total of 85.57%
of the total certified work force,
even though the White American
student population fell during this
same time frame by 28.2%. The
total white American employees that
were certified fell only 3.05% during
this same time. From these figures it
is plain to see that affirmative action
was not working in replacing White
American employees with
employees of color. In fact, white
employees actually increased in
numbers during this period, while
Native American applicants for
teaching and administrative
positions were systematically being
denied and excluded from
employment by the school district.
The status quo was being maintained
at the expense of Indian applicants.
When one looks at the progress
made by African Americans over the
past 14 years in employment by the
district, it becomes even more
obvious. In 1978, the African
American student population was
17.6% of the total student
population. The district employed
African Americans in 9.02% of total
certified work positions. Of these,
35 were certified non-teaching
administrative positions, 4 were
principals and assistant principals
and 76 were certified teachers.
Fourteen years later under the Green
Administration the African
American student population
increased to 14,088 in 1991, which
was 33.8% of the population of
students. During this same period,
African Americans made great
strides in affirmative action hires by
the district. In 1991, 38 were
employed as principals and assistant
principals, an increase of 34 in 14
years, 222 were employed as
certified teachers, an increase of
156, and 76 were employed in
certified non-teaching administrative
positions, an increase of 45. The
total certified staff made up 9.51%
of the total certified work force, a
slight increase, but nevertheless, an
increase. When one looks at the
administrative position of principals,
there is an increase to 30% which is
reflective of the total student
population. Affirmative Action has
worked to increase the African
American employment by the
district both in percentage and total
numbers of employees. This has
been very dramatic in the area of
administrators employed by the
district. The Green Administration
must be commended in this area of
employment of African Americans.
The Native American applicant for
certified positions did not fare as
well under the Green
Administrations as the African
American did. In 1978 the Native
American student population was
2,573 or 5.6% of the total student
population ofthe district. In 1991,
the Native American population
totaled 3,162 students or 7.6% ofthe
total student population. When one
looks at the African American
employment figures and student
population increased, the
employment of African American
certified principals, teachers, and
non-teaching certified administrative
positions increased in dramatic
numbers. This did not happen for
the Native American applicants or
for Native American employment by
the district. la 1978 there were a
grand total of six teachers employed
by the district who were Native
American. Fourteen years later, in
1991, there was a total of 64
certified Native Americans
employed in certified positions, six
in principal and assistant principal
positions, 37 in certified teacher
positions and 21 in certified
non-teaching administrative
counseling positions. While the
increase looks good on paper, at first
glance, six to 64, when one
compares this with the other groups
by percentages, it does not look
good, in fact, it looks dismal. The
total Native American certified
employment by the district is less
than 2% (1.82%). When one
compares that to the African
American employment percentage
and their student population, it
indicates that Native American
applicants were and are employed
by the district at a much lower rate
than African Americans. This is
also true when they are compared to
White American employment by the
school district.
The affirmative action plans of the
school district have worked for the
African Americans but have not
worked for the Native American.
This does not mean that Native
American applicants feel that they
should take positions that have been
earned by the African American
applicants, only that they be involved in
the Affirmative Action plan of the
school district. When one looks at the
reduction in White American student
population over the past 14 years, one
would expect that the employment
population of White Americans would
fall because of retirements and
movement. On the contrary, it has
remained stable, and in actual numbers
has increased at the expense of the
Native American applicants and other
Lost Gen./on pg. 3
By and For the Native American Community
?**&
The
Pree
Native
American
Press
We support Equal Opportunity For All People
A Weekly Publication
Founded in 1991
Volume 2 Issue 13
August 7, 1992
Copyright, The Native American Press, 1992
The Minnesota Chipps win national
Softball tourney in Lewiston, Idaho
The National Indian Softball
Tournament was held in Lewiston,
Idaho, July 30th, 31st and August 1st,
1992.
Jerry Reyes of the Minnesota
Chipps, the Most Valuable Player of
the tournament, capped a furious sixth
inning rally by smashing a
tremendous two-run homer to lead the
Minnesota team to their ninth national
tide in 12 years, 19-9, over the
Taholah, Washington Stars.
Reyes' homer came at the end of a
10-run outburst that saw the Chipps
break a 9-9 tie in the title game and
salt away their fifth win of the
tournament against no losses in the
double-elimination affair.
Earlier, the Chipps were able to
hang in with the Stars throughout the
game on the hitting and speed of
outfielder, Carl Cool, who hit three
triples in the game and scored four
times.
The Chipps started off the
tournament by pounding out an 18-4
win over Plummer, Idaho. After a
slow start, the Chipps scored four
times in the second and nine times in
the third inning to log the win. Gabe
Kampeka had four hits, while Cook,
Reyes and Ken Jeanotte had three
each to pave the way. The Chipps'
Cook and Reyes had solo
four-baggers as well.
In their second game, the Chipps
faced a sky-high Yakima,
Washington Suns team, who jumped
out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first.
John Wind led the Chipps' second
wind with a four-bagger as did Cook.
After Reyes' walk, Crawford nailed a
four-bagger, as did Kampeska,
scoring Jeanotte from his single.
The Chipps ended up over the Suns
20-5.
In a Friday night game, the Chipps
turned an 8-2 deficit around to a 20-8
advantage, getting around the Hoopa
Valley, California team. Reyes kept
on his MVP rampage with three
round-trippers around the bases.
Cook, Crawford and Jeanotte
slapped on two runs in the first of the
final game. The Washington Stars
tied it in the next inning.
Minnesota reestablished the lead at
3-2, however, the Stars nabbed a 6-3
position in the last of the fifth.
The Chipps dismantled the Starr,
with six in the same inning for a 9-6
surge. The vexing Stars romped right
back thrice in the apex of the fifth for
a 9-9 draw.
The last of the sixth was the j
decisive bout for the Minnesota nine,*
as they machinated ten scores for the
victors and a national championship.
In special awards given out,
Reyes was elected as an All-Star
and and MVP for his field prowess.
Joel Smith was also an All-Star and
got the Best Glove award of the
competition.
"All of our team played
exceptionally well," said Chipps
coach, Henry Harper. "Carl Cook
and Mike Fairbanks played very
well and deserved All-Star billing,
but that's up to the tournament
committee, we can't do anything
about that."
"Man for man, we had the best
player at each position in the
tournament, but we'll take the
championship over individual
awards," concluded Harper.
IAC will meet in Twin Cities, Duluth, in Aug
INDIAN AFFAIRS COUNCIL
PUBLIC HEARINGS
AUGUST 19,1992
Minneapolis American Indian
Center - Auditorium
1530 E.Franklin
Minneapolis, MN 55404
12:00-4:00 p.m.
AUGUST 20,1992
Duluth Gov't Services Bldg.
320 W. Second Street - Room 608
Duluth, MN 55802
1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
AUGUST 26,1992
State Office Building
100 Constitution Ave. Rm 300 No.
St. Paul, MN 55155
12:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The Indian Affairs Council's Urban
Indian Advisory Council will be
holding public hearings in
Minneapolis, Duluth, and St. Paul.
Interested citizens are encouraged to
attend these public hearings and
provide testimony on their areas of
concern or interest as it pertains to
the urban Indian population in the
state. The Urban Indian Affairs
Council is interested in hearing
testimony on urban Indian housing,
employment, child welfare,
education, chemical dependency.
health care issues, racism and
discrimination, and economic
development. Testimony may be
provided in advance or at the
scheduled hearings. If you are
interested in providing testimony,
please cajl to confirm your allotted
time a't (612) 296-361 1 .
Testimony will be taken from the
floor as time permits. Your
written testimony should be
limited to 3 pages with your name,
organization, address, and
telephone number. You will have
5 minutes to deliver your public
testimony. Contact Jo-Anne
Stately for further information
regarding these public hearings.
Top photo, the Chipps from Minnesota, bottom photo, the Taholah Stars team from Qainauit, Wasnington.
Treasure Island Casino has a pirate ship
David Carlson as Captain Blackjack, along with other pirateers who are up the crew of the "Queen of Diamonds.
By Gary Blair
If you haven't met any real sea priates
lately or stood aboard a real pirateship,
then maybe it's because you haven't
visited the Treasure Island Casino that's
located on the Prairie Island
Mdewakanton Sioux Indian
Reservation just 30 minutes south of
the Twin Cities. This casino has a real
live pirate by the name of Captain
Blackjack who, when he isn't sailing
the Seven Seas with his five salty crew
members, can be found in the casino
talking with visitors and demonstrating
his many card tricks. But when he does
decide to go to sea, he simply starts up
the ship's 460 cubic inch V8 Ford
engine and sets sail for the nearest
parade. (This weekend the ship sails for
the Ellsworth, Wisconsin, parade.)
The pirateship that Captain Blackjack
uses was built on a one-ton Ford truck
chassis with the frame stretched an
additional 8" to accommodate the 32'
ship which is 13'3" in height and is
8'6" wide. The frame was extended the
extra 8' to help assure the ship's captain
that it wouldn't capsize when it's out on
the open highway. Elliott Wessel,
Promotions Manager for the project,
said, "Captain Blackjack and his
pirateers are all part of a theme that the
Treasure Island Casino Manager and
the Tribal Council for the reservation
have big plans for."
Wessel added, "We have a five-year
expansion plan that includes
development of a 225-room hotel;
400-sIip marina; 18-hoIe golf course;
200 slip RV park; casino expansion;
arcade; entertainment facility for 800;
convention facility for 500; restaurant
with 24-hour buffet; 75-acre theme
park, which includes a man-made lake;
sports bar; and 100 townhouse hotel
suites. AH of this will be located on the
600 acre reservation."
David Carlson, who plays the casino
character Captain Blackjack, said, the
pirateship is called the "Queen of
Diamonds." Carlson, who is an actor by
profession, is employed by the Dan
Foote Marketing Company of St. Paul,
which presently handles the casino's
marketing and promotions. The other
actors who make up the cast of
pirateers are Carlson's wife, Elizabeth,
who plays a pirate woman, and their
son, Ricci, who plays a pirate child.
Others in the cast include John S jogron,
who is one of the male pirates, Jill
Cambronne, who is a blond-haired
female pirate and Keith Garrick, who is
also one of the male pirates.
Carlson said his wife is the
choreographer for the group, which so
far has done a routine of slapstick
humor, jazz and acrobatics as the ship
moves along the different parade
routes. The ship has been busy with
parades ever since it first arrived at the
Casino this past July 3rd and will be
busy year round.
"Built" is the word that best describes
the Queen of Diamonds. The ship was
designed by David Carlson and
constructed by the Designing Signs
Company of Owatonna, Minn. Captain
Blackjack's ship and crew have already
racked up awards from all the major
parades throughout the area, including
awards from many smaller parades.
With a slogan that reads, "For the
Pirate in All of Us," this ship and crew
have become a real showboat and
source of pride for the Prairie Island
community. Wessel said the tribal
council really supports the Captain
Blackjack theme, especially tribal
council treasurer. Vine Wells.
David Krahmer has been the driver
for the ship. Wessel said, "Krahmer
used to drive for a courier service and
he has done a lot of driving. He handles
the ship safely in the parades and that's
not always easy to do." The ship's inner
construction is built out of a 1" steel
frame. The outer part is built from ply
tongue and groove cedar. Ithas smoked
plexi-glass at the front, aluminum
masts, vinyl sails, and stained
woodwork. It's been weather-proofed.
It has a gloss coat, running lights,
sound, and songs by by David Carlson.
Wessel said, "We are allowed to drive
the ship on the freeway and it moves
right along." Our ship has been on TV,
shown in news clips, and we have been
on the cable channels as well." He
added, "We want to make it clear that
this ship has nothing to do with
Columbus." In one ofthe parades we
had some guy running after us hollering
about it being a 'Columbus ship.' This
ship has nothing to do with Columbus.
It's the theme for the Treasure Island
Casino and nothing else." Wessel also
said, "It's nice when someone comes
into the casino and tells you they saw
the ship at one ofthe parades we were
in."
Pirateships aren't the first and only
thing that the Treasure Island Casino
has been a major sponsor of. Casino
Magazine recently featured a story
about a 2,200 horspower alcohol fueled
champion "Funny Car" that's used in
the sport of drag racing. This car has
run in drag races all over the country
with the Treasure Island Casino name
colorfully painted on its side. Both
tribal council members Vine Wells and
Johnny Johnson are quoted in the
article. Wells was quoted as having
said, "The excitement of racing
matches the excitement of gaming."
Johnson was quoted as saying,
"Treasure Island Casino and Bingo has,
in under a year, grown to be the 34th
largest privately held corporation in the
state of Minnesota."
This Saturday country singer Willie
Nelson will perform outdoors at the
casino for a group of over 7,000
people. Rita Wells, Guest Relations
Manager, said, "Willie Nelson will
start setting on Thursday and people
who want to meet him should come
down and do so."